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Healthy people should be encouraged to take a daily dose of aspirin to ward off cancer, according to the leader of a new study highlighting the drug's benefits

DAILY ASPIRIN 'CAN WARD OFF CANCER'

Healthy people should be encouraged to take a daily dose of aspirin to ward off cancer, according to the leader of a new study highlighting the drug's benefits.

The research shows that long-term use of aspirin significantly reduces the risk of developing major cancers, mostly affecting the digestive tract, and dying from them.

If everyone in the UK aged 50 to 64 took aspirin for 10 years an estimated 130,357 cancer deaths could be avoided over two decades, the study found. A further 9,473 fatal heart attacks would also be prevented.

MPS URGE PM ACTION OVER GAZA CURBS

David Cameron has come under renewed pressure over his policy on Gaza with a call from MPs to do more to persuade Israel to lift unjustified restrictions on the movements of Palestinians.

The Commons International Development Committee said some controls on the movements of Gazans - who are rarely allowed to leave the territory - were not "proportionate" and in some cases ran counter to international law.

It urged the Government to do what it could to persuade the Israelis to improve the supply of water and electricity which are frequently cut off.

DARLING 'MAY HAVE EDGED TV DEBATE'

Former chancellor Alistair Darling may have scored a narrow victory over First Minister Alex Salmond in the first live TV debate of the Scottish independence referendum campaign, a poll has suggested.

With just over six weeks to go till voters in Scotland decide if the country should remain in the UK or not, the two rival politicians took part in a sometimes heated and noisy debate over the nation's future.

A Guardian/ICM poll conducted immediately afterwards indicated Labour MP Mr Darling, the leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign, had won the debate by 56% to 44%.

'DO NOT FEAR EU EXIT' SAYS JOHNSON

Life outside the "sclerotic" European Union is an "attractive" option for Britain, Boris Johnson will say today.

In his hardest-line comments on the issue so far, the London mayor is to insist that the UK should not fear leaving the group if it cannot secure necessary reforms.

Although he will stress remaining in a streamlined EU is the best option, Mr Johnson will suggest a looser association could boost trade with the rest of the world and add 1.1% to GDP.

UN RESOLUTION ON GAZA CIRCULATED

Jordan has circulated a revised UN resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and condemning "all violence and hostilities against civilians".

Its new UN Ambassador Dina Kawar said the draft resolution, backed by the Palestinians and Arab nations, was submitted to the Security Council in a form that could be put to a vote.

She said Jordan is "very happy" with the 72-hour ceasefire announced late on Monday and its main purpose in the resolution is to make the cessation of hostilities permanent and have it lead to a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and reconstruction of Gaza.

CHINA QUAKE DEATH TOLL RISES TO 589

The death toll in southern China's earthquake has risen to 589 as search and rescue teams work to clear isolated mountain communities in Yunnan province.

The provincial government says more than 2,400 people were injured in Sunday's 6.1 magnitude quake in the rural Yunnan county of Ludian.

Thousands of troops and hundreds of volunteers have rushed to the site to dig out possible survivors from the debris, but landslides and rains have complicated rescue efforts.

'NAME RETAILERS' OVER CHICKEN BUG

A consumer organisation has called on food chiefs to name and shame retailers after a survey found that almost three fifths of fresh shop-bought chickens tested positive for campylobacter.

The food poisoning bug was present in 59% of birds tested, and in 4% of samples it was identified on the outside of the packaging, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which? said: "The FSA's survey reveals unacceptably high levels of campylobacter and they must now publish the names of the retailers so consumers are aware of the best and worst performing shops.

OSBORNE EXPLORES BITCOIN POTENTIAL

Exploring the potential for the use of digital currencies such as Bitcoin and better access to finance for small businesses were among measures announced by the Chancellor today.

The regulation of virtual and digital currencies, and the risks associated with them, will be explored in a bid to boost the UK's Financial Technology (FinTech) sector, George Osborne said.

The Government is set to publish a strategy document later this year setting out how the UK can become the "global centre of financial innovation", the Treasury said.

POWER PRICE CHEATS COULD FACE JAIL

People found guilty of rigging wholesale gas and electricity prices could face up to two years in prison under plans unveiled by the Government.

Under the new laws it would be a criminal offence to fix energy prices at an artificial level or use insider information to buy or sell energy on the wholesale market, the Department of Energy (Decc) said.

It would also become an offence to make misleading claims or conceal facts about wholesale energy prices in order to manipulate the market - especially if such an act could affect competition in the marketplace, Decc said.

BECKHAM'S CLOTHES SOLD FOR CHARITY

She has worn some memorable outfits over the years, and now fashion designer Victoria Beckham is putting more than 600 items from her extensive wardrobe up for sale to raise money for a charity to help mothers living with HIV.

The former Spice Girl, who has four children, said a trip to meet some of the women involved in the work of Mentor Mothers - educating women with HIV about access to treatment and fighting the stigma of the diagnosis in Africa - inspired her to take action.

Beckham said she has kept some important and sentimental pieces from her wardrobe for her three-year-old daughter Harper, but added that she was more focused on fundraising.

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